Twisting my neck, I glared at him. He smiled innocently.
"As a friend, obviously."
Making a noise of disgust, I turned away. Of all the people I had to work with—why did it have to be him?
Pretending he wasn't sitting behind me, I tried to envision how my meeting with the Archdruid would go.
How could I guess? I'd never met the man.
But I would not relinquish Siotha. She had fallen into my hands the day I'd found my purpose. If Solathair existed, then this must be his will, even if his priests claimed otherwise.
Maybe they'd change their tune when I brought them the head of their Emperor's murderer.
Chapter 35
Mare
There was a hole in my side, and I was sitting in the middle of a theatre troupe. It was a fitting metaphor for my fraudulent, farcical life.
Reese had filled me in on his history with Brighid. Bláth had introduced them, and despite their clashing personalities, they got along well enough.
I shifted on the cold bench, staring up at the theatre stage. The actors ran around behind the curtain, preparing for a show.
For whom, I wondered?
After much coercing, Brighid had convinced Reese to stop here. Lady was exhausted from carrying a double load and needed to rest. Reese was off tending to her, and Liam had disappeared into a tent, harassing the bards over what rations they had to spare.
Bláth sat beside me, hands pressed to the bench, feet crossed, like she was eagerly waiting for the show to begin. Warmth radiated from her golden curls and seeped through my fur cloak.
Brighid fluffed the skirt of her dress and sat opposite me. Her ruby eyes bore into me, and I got the impression she knew far more about me than I did about her.
“Tell me, Lady Rohan,” Brighid said, folding her hands on her lap. “How much do you know about the Empire’s history?”
“Ha!” Bláth smirked at me. “Brighid is so boring. She always wants to drone on about history.”
Brighid closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “It's been half an hour, and I already miss the silence your absence brings, Bláth.”
“Really? I recall a drunken confession along the lines of 'I ache for the comfort your voice brings,'” Bláth teased.
She leaned forward, and her cloak parted. I noticed a speck of crimson peeking out from her cleavage. It didn’t match her purple coat.
“Is that?” I pointed at her, admittedly, generous bosom. “Liam’s handkerchief?”
“No.” Bláth pulled up her shirt, covering the crimson fabric.
Brighid made a sound of disgust. “You’re a pig, Bláth. Quit playing with your tits; I’m trying to talk with a lady.”
My eyebrows nearly met my hairline. Liam had been keeping secrets from me, if this Solheart was wearing his favor.
Secrets I needed to know.
I studied the collection of colorful tents, searching for my brother.
“Well?” Brighid pressed.
“Oh.” I looked back at her. “I know what my tutor taught. Enough.”
“Essentially nothing, then.” Brighid flicked her hair over her shoulder. “Forlaith has been around for as long as written history. Two thousand years, give or take. It was a city-state—the seat of an alliance between four nations. Over the years, it grewin power and became much of what we know today—the ruling force that owns us all.”
